Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-12-08

business. Many entertained the
opinion that the senate's course
would be in exact accordance with
the law directing how the council
should be organized and with the
prescribed order of business, while
others who had closely watched
and understood the temper and de-
signs Of the sonate's partisan ma
jority believed that the law would
be wholly ignored. The latter
has proven to be the fact. After
noon, last Wednesday, the debate
in the senate became so hot that
they adjourned until next day at
2 o'clock. According to adjourn
ment the senate convened, but
there being no quorum, President
Hawkins adjourned the senate un-
til the Monday morning following
at o O'Clock. Under the constitu-
ton any number less than a quo
rum can only adjourn from day to
day. This was done in order to
give Hawkins time 20 go TO and re-
turn from Fort Smith, whittier he
had been summoned as a witness
in the Stone murder case. In his
absence the number of senators
would have been equal and the
contest doubtful. So a constitu-
tional provision had to 60 rather
than such a risk should be run.
This morning, quite early, Haw-
kris appeared upon the scene, and
at 8 O'Clock was in his seat.
Mr.. Gray, OF Canadian, had i'm
mediately after the organization of
the senate, moved to take up the
regular order of business as pre-
scribed in the act defining the man.
ner in which the council should be
organized. The motion stood
over until this morning, when
without further ceremony the pres
ident declared the motion out of
order and ruled the first business
of the senate to be the contests.
His reverence said that he, aspresi-
dent of the senate, occupied the
position Of judge and that it was
only necessary for him to rule in
such matters and TO direct what
should be the order of business.
1t was clearly demonstrated that
the law had no influence in con-
trolling the action of Hawkins and
his followers, although many rea-
sons were offered why the contests
should be settled after the count of
the votes for chief had been made.
One was that the election returns,
under the law, had TO be used as
evidence in trying contests, and
that if they were opened, it then
became the imperative duty to ex-
anime the returns for chief, first.
In the midst of this conflict of
opinions, between law and
lawless determination to override
all opposition, the senate adjourn
ed until 2 O'Clock
At the appointed hour the sena-
tors took their seats and the con-
flict was renewed. Mr.. Gray took
an appeal from the chair to the
senate, denouncing its action to be
arbitrary and without the sanction
of law or common sense. After
much wrangling as to the proprie-
ty Of such a thing, the question
was put to a vote and the presi-
dent voting to sustain his ruling
Mr.. Gray failed to accomplish his
purpose.
Further efforts to combat a ma
jority long since determined to
carry their point now became evi.
IDENTIFY useless. The hour being
late, Mr.. Gray moved to adjourn,
but was overruled. To take i'm
mediate advantage Of his victory,
President Hawkins directed the
trial of contest cases to begin, des-
ignating the one which should be
taken up first. Mr.. Gray rose to
his feet, and taking up his hat en-
phatically declared that he would
not take part in that which was SO
contrary to the laws and constitu-
ton. A regular stampede became
evident, but Soggy Sanders moved
an Adjournment until tomorrow
morning at 9o'clock.
The Downing members say they
have now exhausted all means to
effect a peaceful and friendly ad-
justment of differences, but as
one remarked, the bedrock is
reached. There is a painful cri-
sis in our affairs that must be set
tied somehow, as another remark
ed, and the sooner the better.
Anyone with half an eye can east
ly see that there is a settled deter
mination on part of the Downing
party not to submit to this arbitra-
ry action of the senate. Until
there is change in the programme
there will be no quorum in the
senate, and any force used to COM
pei the attendance ofmembers will
result seriously.
The readers of the CHIEFTAIN
need not be startled to hear that a
coup d etGt has been resorted TO, be-
fore the close ofthe week, because
in the history Of nations such
things have to be done sometimes
~ TUESDAY MoRSISG, Dec. s, 1857.
Tacf ,aiorhf tho ncxynif,,,l hold n